Adding another high-profile shingle to its network of production partners, European film-TV group Studiocanal will team with âThe Kingâs Speechâ producers, See-Saw Films, on âMacbeth,â starring Michael Fassbender (âShameâ) and Natalie Portman.

Helmed by âSnowtownâsâ Justin Kurzel, âMacbethâ was developed by See-Saw and the U.K.âs Film 4.

Studiocanal and Film4 will now finance production. Studiocanal will also distribute in U.K., France, Germany where it owns distribution operations. It will also handle sales to the rest of the world outside these territories, bringing âMacbethâ onto the market at next weekâs Cannes.

See-Sawâs Iain Canning and Emile Sherman will produce.

Initiating principal photography in January, âMacbethâ is billed by its producers as a âtruthful reimagining of what wartime must have really been like for one of Shakespeareâs most famous and compelling characters, a story of all-consuming passion and ambition.â It will be set in war-torn 11th century Scotland.

âWe are very pleased to be financing âMacbethâ which deftly brings contemporary themes to an iconic story,â said Studiocanal chairman-CEO Olivier Courson.

Canning and Sherman commented: âWith Michael Fassbender and Natalie Portman, we have two of the finest actors of their generation, playing two of the most celebrated roles of all time.â

âJustin (Kurzel) is an exceptional director and the prospect of his visceral and urgent work, together with the work of these two extraordinary performers, is very exciting," added Film4 head Tessa Ross.